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Sponge Diver Memorial.

Sponge Diver Memorial Statue

Field review by the editors.

Tarpon Springs, Florida

A statue of a fearless sponge diver stands along the docks of Tarpon Springs, a Greek community that started as center for the Florida sponge industry, and evolved into a tourist attraction about the sponge industry (and a great place to find Greek food). Dedicated in 2002, "In Memory of the Spongers of Tarpon Springs" depicts a young man in a full rubber diving suit and boots, holding his helmet in one arm. A lot of these intrepid spongers died on the job, and with the sponge beds exhausted, there are safer professions diving for tourist dollars.

Sponge Diver Memorial.

The sculpture is a worthy photo op, though it's no Spongeorama. Apparently an older fiberglass diver, circa 1975, was retired -- it had the signature 1970s manly mustache seen on the old dummies in Spongeorama dioramas.

Sponge Diver Memorial Statue

Address:
Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs, FL
Directions:
Across from the Sponge Exchange, just west of Athens St. on Dodecanese Blvd.
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Live Sponge Diving Boat TourLive Sponge Diving Boat Tour, Tarpon Springs, FL - < 1 mi.
SpongeoramaSpongeorama, Tarpon Springs, FL - < 1 mi.
Greek Shrine to Archangel MiracleGreek Shrine to Archangel Miracle, Tarpon Springs, FL - < 1 mi.
In the region:
Ice Cream Cone Building, Zephyrhills, FL - 34 mi.

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